• Magpies to play Ngati Porou East Coast for Ranfurly Shield

Magpies to play Ngati Porou East Coast for Ranfurly Shield

The Hawke's Bay Magpies will play against Ngati Porou East Coast in their final pre-season Ranfurly Shield challenge in Napier next month.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union announced the challenge had been accepted against "everyone's favourite second team", with the match due to take place at McLean Park on July 24.

Ngati Porou East Coast Chief Executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel said; "NPEC are excited to be heading to Ngati Kahungunu/Hawkes Bay for our ninth Ranfurly Shield challenge".

"This will be a pinnacle event in the celebration of our centenary, and a major challenge in Coach Hosea Gears first year on the ground with us." 

Gear, who appeared 15 times for the All Blacks, recently returned home and joined the province as head coach in the hope of helping the next generation of Ngati Porou.

"The game will be of major significance to Ngati Porou around the country and we look forward to the challenge," Tangaere-Manuel said.

This will be the Magpies second defence for 2021 if they manage to get past the first challenger, 2019 Meads Cup winners North Otago, who the Magpies are scheduled to face on June 30.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Jay Campbell said it's brilliant to be able to fit another challenge into their condensed pre-season.

"To host one of our neighbours and in their centenary year is fantastic and we know that the crowd will be chocka fill of their supporters in ‘Sky Blue’ come July 24."

"I was living in London in 2001 when HB hosted the coast in that epic final, but plenty of my mates have told me the atmosphere was up there with a test match and knowing how passionate the Ngati Porou are, will no doubt be similar come kick-off on the July 25."

Magpies Coach, Mark Ozich said: "It’s a great opportunity to connect with our provincial neighbours and despite being in the Heartland competition we know that East Coast will arrive in Napier with an abrasive attitude and a desire to play entertaining rugby".

"If we’re lucky enough to hold on to the shield verses North Otago it will be a great way to build into our NPC campaign."

Tickets for both shield games go on sale from Thursday 10th June with Magpie season tickets available from Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union Office which include all 2021 Magpies NPC games, the two heartland shield challenges and the club finals weekend to be held at McLean Park.